Planting the Seeds of Volunteerism

BEDFORD, Pa. - April 9, 2014 - PRLog -- Colonial Courtyard at Bedford residents appreciate Jackie Mazzaferro’s green thumb. A member of the Bedford County Garden Club, Mazzaferro has regularly volunteered for a decade  at the senior living community located at 220 Donahue Manor Road.

      “She makes such a big difference and she is such an asset,” said Nanette Bankes, Activities Coordinator at Colonial Courtyard at Bedford. “Jackie does one-on-one visits every week. She’ll take a plant in, start a conversation with a resident and give the plant to the resident. Then they get to nurture that plant. She comes in every week and talks to them about the plant. Some of the residents, this is exactly what they need.”

     Volunteers such as Mazzaferro are in the spotlight as April is National Volunteer Month and National Volunteer Week is April 6-12. Colonial Courtyard at Bedford will hold a Volunteer Recognition Dinner at 5 p.m. on April 23.

      “Jackie took to the residents, made a connection and got to know them,” Bankes said. “She does a lot with the Bedford County Garden Club. We do programs four to six times a year with her through the garden club. She keeps our building looking great with our garden and plants outside and inside the building.”

     Mazzaferro is a retired activities director who used to work at a senior living community in New York. Her late mother had been a resident at Colonial Courtyard at Bedford. Mazzaferro has strong ties to the senior community.

     “She made friends and connections when her mother was a resident,” Bankes said. “She stayed on as a volunteer and has volunteered for more than 10 years. She makes the residents feel important, and she can do that on a one-on-one basis.”

     “All of our volunteers are special,” Bankes added. “We appreciate all the work they do. It’s only appropriate that we recognize our volunteers this month and thank them for all of their efforts and dedication.”